Back in the USA! Astoria, Oregon

The Insignia arrived in Astoria, Oregon shortly after breakfast this morning. It was a great feeling to be back in the USA! Before disembarking, we had to go through immigration in order to prove that we are US citizens. That consisted of waiting in a long line to have our passports checked and our pictures taken. Afterwards, we took the shuttle bus into town so that we could mail a package to Henry. It turns out that others from the ship were going to the post office too, mostly mailing stuff they couldn’t fit into their luggage. Several folks bought extra suitcases to get their excess stuff home. We haven’t packed yet so we don’t know if our luggage will go over the allotted weight but I packed a duffel bag, just in case.

 

view from ship - Port of Astoria

post from old docks emerge at low tide

 

We made it back from town in time for our tour bus to pick us up to take us to some small coastal towns along the Oregon coast. It was out first time to visit Oregon. It is a really beautiful state! I don’t think I would enjoy so much mist and rain; however they do wonders for flowers! Everything was so lush and green; flowers of all colors grow and bloom like crazy! Our first stop was a little town called Seaside. 

 

bus window view on way to Seaside

 

a life size postcard

Seaside caters mainly to tourists with souvenir-type shops and activities directed at families with children. We only had 45 minutes to look around and most of our time was spent walking around looking for something to eat. That wasn’t enough time for a sit down restaurant so we didn’t really find anything. From there, continued up the coast, stopping for a quick photo op at Haystack Rock, a rock formation that has been used in numerous movies including The Goonies and Kindergarten Cop. 

 

Haystack Rock formation

 

We arrived at Cannon City, a really neat little town on the Oregon coast. After visiting both, I wished we could have eliminated our first stop in order to have more time in Cannon City. It was a very cool, beautiful little town. We were starving since we still hadn’t eaten lunch and it was around 2:30 by that time, so we found a pizza restaurant and ordered ourselves a pizza. 

By the time we had finished eating, I had only about 15 minutes before we needed to be back at the bus. So basically I just walked back to the bus and took as many photos as I could on my way back. We rode the 45 minutes back to the port with full tummies, but wishing we could have enjoyed Cannon City a little longer. We sailed shortly after our return to the ship.

 

visitors meander along downtown streets

still dressed up for Fourth

 

As for the photos, the sky was mostly overcast, so they look better than those I shot at Butchart Gardens in the bright sun. I know the names of some but not all so I won't try to caption them. Enjoy!

 

window box outside eatery

climbing roses

every place of business has beds, window boxes or hanging baskets